NASHVILLE, Tenn. – The Tigers open a key Ohio Valley Conference series with preseason favorite Jacksonville State. Tennessee State (14-20, 2-4) will face the Gamecocks (20-8, 5-2) in a double header beginning at 1:00pm on Saturday and will play the final game on Sunday at 1:00pm. TSU faces the challenge of putting themselves in the mix of the race to get to the OVC tournament for the first time since 2001.

The Tigers dropped both ends of a twin bill at home last week against Murray State, before traveling to Austin Peay. TSU gained a split with the Lady Govs on a comeback win in game two by scoring five runs in the seventh and the use of 20 hits.

All games for the series can be heard and seen on ovcdigitalnetwork.com.

Kiarra Freeman and Jayna Hanawahine tied a school record with four hits in a game versus Austin Peay. Freeman set a new school record by safely reaching base five times in the same game. The Knoxville raised her average to .266 while Hanawahine is now hitting at a .277 clip.

Lindsey Burgess continues to lead the Tigers hitting .330 and is followed by Kate Morris (.300). Burgess tops TSU in doubles (7) and home runs (4), while she is second on the team with 16 RBI. Morris leads the Tigers with 21 runs driven home.

Jacksonville State (20-8, 5-2)

2013 Record: 30-27

Conference: OVC

2013 Finish: 11-11/3rd East

Series Record: 4-43

Last Time Played: 3-7-13, L 0-5

Last Win: 3-21-09, 3-2

The Gamecocks come into the weekend as the OVC leader in hitting with a .336 average and 176 runs. Sara Borders leads the conference and JSU hitting .471 with eight doubles, nine home runs, 31 runs and 30 RBI. Borders’ leads a squad which sports eight other batters hitting over .300. In the circle, JSU has used seven pitchers with Tiffany Harbin leading the way with 65.1 innings pitched. Harbin has compiled a 3.43 ERA and is 7-4 with 70 strikeouts. Logan Green (3.02) and Casey Akenberger (6.11) are 4-2, while Taylor West (2.88) is 3-0 and Brooke Carvey (1.27) is 2-0.